Global reverse lookup public opinion directory

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to web resource metadata creation and utility and provide a method, system and computer program product for transforming articles that create subjective metadata used for discovery into articles that create mathematical data that is inherently dynamic, global, composed of auditable elements, conducive to relational cross-reference, and utilized to capture public opinion and produce statistical opinion data and rankings.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/113,031 filed on May 21, 2011.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention relates generally to data collectionand processing and more particularly to the field of Internet resourcebookmarking and metadata creation. The invention's utility within thefield of public opinion polling is a direct result of transformativeeffects upon the articles producing bookmarks and web page metadata,therefore the background discussed herein will focus on the history ofbookmarking technology.

As the volume of global Internet data and web resources grewexponentially from inception, systems and methods such as search enginesand search algorithms were developed that transformed machines thatcould access and render the Internet, such as computing devices andbrowsers, into machines that could utilize the Internet by filteringmillions of possible resources into small, meaningful, and useful groupsof resources. The subsequent development of a “favorites” functionalitywithin browsers marked another generation of transformative technologyas machines capable of utilizing the Internet were now able to easilysave and instantly re-access the small groups of resources madeavailable through the filtering technology of search engines andalgorithms. This new technology is known in the art as the “bookmarking”of resources and is characterized in modern web browsers with simplegraphic functions that allow users to save, name, organize, and recallspecific Internet uniform resource locators (URLs) from local memory byemploying the Internet and common HTTP and HTML naming and renderingschemes.

As bookmarking became ubiquitous, new transformations improved uponprior art, namely web-based bookmarking and social bookmarking websites.Web-based bookmarking allows users to place their bookmarks on a remoteserver, typically utilizing a registration, username, and passwordsystem to provide for global access and manipulation of a user'spersonal bookmarks from any computing, mobile, or other device withaccess to the Internet. Social bookmarking websites provide for andsustain online environments wherein groups of web-based bookmarkingusers can share and utilize each other's bookmarks.

In response to the vast commercial profit and social networkingpotential created by publicly sharing large numbers of private web-basedbookmarks, the Internet has seen the rapid growth of social bookmarkingwebsites in recent years. These websites typically: allow freemembership via a registration process, require username and passwordaccess, provide for customizable member profile pages, and provide theopportunity to download a graphical user interface (GUI) site accessprogram. This program is typically downloaded into a user's web browser,referred to in the art as downloading a “toolbar” or “plug in” andgreatly facilitates bookmark creation and management.

Social bookmarking websites have experienced rapid growth primarily byallowing the assignment of subjective keywords by users to describe andclassify their public bookmarks, known in the art as “tagging”. Withoutthe tagging system, a social bookmark site would simply consist of anenormous database of random URLs that would be difficult to browse orutilize for any effective purpose. By utilizing tagging, these websitescan allow members to search and extract publicly stored bookmarks usingkeywords of interest to them; members can also create effective socialnetworks by using inference and judgment to assess the personality ofother members by inspecting another member's choice of bookmarks, tagusage and profile page. Specific examples of social bookmarking websitessuccessfully using the tagging system include delicious.com andstumbleupon.com; many of those skilled in the arts believe a majortransformation is possibly underway wherein the search algorithmmethodologies, which have transformed the utility of the Internet indramatic fashion, could soon be eclipsed by the metadata methodologiesexemplified by social bookmarks.

Tagging systems produce new data (subjectively assigned keywords, votesin favor or against, etc.), or “metadata”, about existing data (webresources) and collectively comes to be known in the art as a“folksonomy”. Metadata and resultant folksonomy are key drivers in thecontinued growth of social bookmarking sites: as their members continueto exploit the entertainment, networking, discovery, and text querysearch facility of this metadata, the sites themselves reap economicbenefits from the increase in Internet traffic and rankings derived fromtheir growing base of members and the vast quantities of links to andfrom their sites. The elemental data used to create current metadata isbased on the subjective and creative process of users attachingindividually chosen keywords to their bookmarks. For example, 100 usersbookmarking a particular web page containing a news article about WallStreet may literally assign 100 or more different keywords to the samearticle.

Current processes enabling creation and usage of metadata are rich withbenefits, opportunities, and challenges. Many of these were discussed indetail at The 16th International World Wide Web Conference in Alberta,Canada in 2007, and subsequently published in an article titled TheComplex Dynamics of Collaborative Tagging. The current inventionaddresses deficiencies of the art within current metadata constructionand provides systems and methods for the transformation of articlesemployed in said construction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the current invention provide a novel and non-obvioussystem, method and computer program product to create objective web pagemetadata suitable for use as statistically viable input into politicallyand commercially relevant public opinion measurement and repositorysystems.

One embodiment of the enclosed system addresses the described, andother, deficiencies in prior art utilizing a structured format tostrategically gather at least one scaled, mathematically valued,controlled-vocabulary opinion regarding the content of a web resourcefrom all users requesting to comment upon or bookmark said resourcewhile and employing at least two data integrity steps before storage ofsaid opinion.

Embodiments of the disclosed invention provide for additionalclassification of resources and metadata among fixed categories andtypes. Subjective keywords, unstructured vocabulary commenting, andother customary user attributions to resources may be collected onlyafter a predetermined number of controlled vocabulary, scaled opinionshave been recorded.

Embodiments of the current invention objectify subjective values,judgments, opinions and beliefs and convert cognitive responses intonumeric relational database inputs. The inherent nature of said databaseoutput is geographically broad, demographically cross-sectional,ongoing, dynamic, and provides for transformation of current articles ofsocial bookmarking and web page commenting into articles of publicopinion measurement.

Embodiments of the current invention utilize cross-referencingmembership data to create useful social networking, marketing, andadvertising opportunities and systems.

Embodiments of the current invention transform articles of prior artfrom keyword-based discovery and social networking mechanisms intonumber-based measurement and polling mechanisms providing databaseoutput characterized by statistical integrity, auditable core dataelements, and complex cross-reference conductivity.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of thecurrent invention are exemplary and explanatory only and are notrestrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment global environment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment data transformationprocess.

FIG. 3 is a sample Survey Form 1.

FIG. 4 is a sample Response Master File.

FIG. 5A is a representation of Data Set 500.

FIG. 5B is a representation of Data Set 505.

FIG. 5C is a representation of Data Set 510.

FIG. 6 is a sample of Survey Form 1A.

FIG. 7 is a sample of Survey Form 1B.

FIG. 8 is a sample of Survey Form 2.

FIG. 9 is a sample of Survey Form 3.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of Data Integrity Step 2 and exit modes.

FIG. 11 is a sample Interface in World Meters mode.

FIG. 12 is a sample Interface in World Rankings mode.

FIG. 13 is a sample Interface in Judge Ranking mode.

FIG. 14 is a sample Interface in Search mode.

FIG. 15 is a sample Interface in Audit mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a system,method, and computer program product to objectify one or morepsychological and cognitive responses, and record, process and utilizethe objectified response data as statistically viable input in thegeneration of politically and commercially viable public opinionsearching, ranking, metering, and repository systems. FIG. 1 illustratesthe global environment for deployment of the preferred embodiment and isnot restrictive of the invention as claimed. As illustrated therein, acomputer communications network 100 allows communication between saidsystem elements: web resources, reflected as web page 135; computerprogram 105 and interface 115; a website host and web server 110 withdatabase 140; and 110 member user 125 and anonymous user 130 connectedto 100 via computing devices able to render and interact with 115 usingbrowser 120.

Description of the various system environments in which 105 couldoperate or be delivered, and technical description of said environments'ubiquitous elemental components comprising intranets, graphical userinterface (GUI) browsers, text-based browsers, toolbars, toolbarextensions, add-ons, plug-ins, servers, personal computers, mobile phoneapplications, PDAs, data storage devices, AJAX client-side systems,platforms, frameworks, web based applications, desktop installations,downloadable software, and other commonly used technology may obscureefforts to clearly and concisely detail the invention's novel features,and will therefore be used minimally. The ensuing detailed descriptionof the preferred embodiment, therefore, will utilize a simplifiedenvironment as illustrated in FIG. 1 with mundane global elementsinteracting with computer program 105 as a web application built in ASP.NET framework with 115 interface, being hosted and deployed by 110operating in client-server model connected to back-end 140 SQLrelational database, serving GUI browser 120 enabled users 125 and 130as they request to comment upon or bookmark web pages 135 whileinterfacing 115 using AJAX techniques. Those skilled in the arts canreadily adapt the current invention to operate within differentenvironments employing various frameworks, platforms and protocols notherein detailed.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting data input and transformation in apreferred embodiment of the claimed method and computer program product.Said method begins at 200, wherein said application 105 comprisescontrols and instructions written in a programming language such as C#to objectify and record subjective opinions, values, beliefs, feelings,emotions, and judgments. Those skilled in the relevant arts will realizethat many framework, platform, language, and logic combinations arepossible to execute said method and that detail herein is exemplary onlyand not restrictive of application 105 or the method as claimed. Inprocess 200, user 125 or 130 desiring to bookmark or comment upon webpage 135 launches application 105 and creates a unique event ID numberrepresented as table cell A1 in FIG. 4 Response Master File 400,typically by clicking web page 135 sharing icon linked to website 110,if present, or a browser 120 toolbar icon which launches 115. Saidlaunching comprising a request over 100 for service from site 110application 105 to display interface 115, which is rendered on user 125or 130 browser 120 as FIG. 3, 300 also referred to as Survey Form 1.Alternatively, 105 may be accessed by downloaded over 100, softwarestored on hard disk, compact disk, optical disk, flash memory or similarmedia. In these and other alternative embodiments, 105 maybe present onlocal memory and processed by various mobile or non-mobile computingdevice of user 125 or 130 and utilized in online or offline mode whereinoffline stored survey 300 information, from one or more surveys, iscommunicated to website 110 upon user 125 or 130 command at some pointin the future when connected to Internet 100.

Unlike social bookmarking websites, site 110 allows comments, orjudgments, without requiring membership 335 and without requiring that abookmark is created 330. In this manner, user 125 or 130 who may wish tocomment on thousands of 135 does not have to create thousands ofbookmarks as well. This allows any user of 100 to pass judgment, makecomments, or otherwise create metadata on any 135 for repository into140 and public consumption. Unlike existing 135 blog posts or newsarticles that allow users to add comments below posts, which are onlyvisible to visitors of said 135, 105 and the preferred method disclosedherein provide a means for said metadata regarding said 135 to enter aglobal measurement and repository 140 for combination andcross-reference with the whole of metadata from all 135 within 100entered previously into 140 by any 125 or 130 users of 105. 130 users at115 may judge 135 only 330, or judge and bookmark 135 to their machinelocally 315. 125 users are not required to sign in if they wish to judgeor bookmark 135 anonymously 335. 125 users who are signed in 335 mayjudge only 330, judge and also create a public bookmark 315 (bookmarkwill be publicly linked to their member ID, FIG. 13, 1310), or judge andcreate private bookmark 315 (bookmark accessible to 125 on member homepage of 100 but not tied publicly to 125 ID publicly, not illustrated).In any case described above the judgment or opinion data they haveentered regarding 135 is stored at 140 if the event is successful, andthe option to submit this data anonymously is available 335 to allusers.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative Response Master File, 400, which could belocated in a segregated section of 140 or within memory area of 110, andstores and organizes data for bilateral communication with 140 whosedatabase table is represented for exemplary purposes only in FIG. 5A,FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5C. For reasons of clarity the database table 140 isbeing represented as three tables 500, 505, and 510 referred to in FIG.2, 215, 225, and 260. Solely to make herein description more concise anduseful, Data Set 500 can be referred to as event data, Data Set 505 asmember data, and Data Set 510 as Survey data. A more accurate depictionof 140, one not limited by FIG. 5 horizontal drawing page space wouldplace 500 in left page position connected on its right to left side of505 which would finally connect on its right side to left side of 510.In said depiction, Column “A” of 500, 505, and 510 would appear onlyonce, on the leftmost side of 500 as currently illustrated, and thecolumn order proceeds in a left to right fashion ending at column “AN”,or 520. It is understood by those skilled in the relevant arts that 500,505, and 510 collectively represent the database table of 140 serving110 and is only representative of a relational database employing SQLlanguage wherein the ID number represented as cell A1 in 500, 505, 510,and 400 is a unique identifier for each new judging or bookmarkingevent, represented as a subsequent row in 140 database table. It isfurther understood that 140 may comprise many different models,languages, architectures, types, components, and structures whosetechnical description would obscure explanation of the enclosedinvention, as preferred embodiments do not make claims regarding generaldatabase structure or management but rather what type of data is storedin a database, how subjective data is converted to objective data, thesystem and means said data is collected, inputted and for what purposesaid data is utilized.

FIG. 5, inclusive, contains column header codes 525 which are used forreasons of space and clarity in place of full text descriptions forcolumn headers in tables 500, 505, and 510. Said codes are twocharacters in length and correspond directly to the respective twocharacter cell locations on FIG. 4 Response Master File, 400. Toillustrate, FIG. 5A column header code 515 “C3” corresponds to 405, orcell C3 on 400, which in this case is the table cell storing the time ofa metadata response event in Pacific Standard Time. 140 Database table500, 505, 510 and Response Master File 400 maintain permanent columnheaders and cell spaces, respectively, for all possible inputs from eachresponse event. Each row in 140 comprises a new response event with anew ID, 400 cell A1. The number of 140 column cells per said row whichwill be populated with values depends on available event data 500,member data 505, and respondent survey inputs 510.

FIG. 2 process 205 is a representation of a sample Data Integrity Step 1in which application 105 programmatically adds user 125 IP address tocell A2 of 400 and cross-references database 500 and 510 columns codedA2, C1, B4 and B5. These columns in cross-reference will dictate whetheror each response event can proceed as the preferred embodiments of 105logic limit one IP address (A2) bookmarking and/or judging one 135 URL(C1) one time regarding 135 creator (B4) and one time regarding 135content (B5). If database 510, codes B4 and B5 both contain a value of 1when cross-referenced to this user IP address (A2) and URL (C1), thenprocess 205 results in NO and 210 after displaying a message to userindicating they have already judged both the creator and the content oftheir requested page (not illustrated). If either B4 or B5 is a zero,then process 205 is YES and bookmarking and/or judging event mayproceed. If any prior 125 or 130 response to a given 135 URL did notreach FIG. 7, 700 during the event process, wherein a respondent clearlyindicates that the object of their judgment is either content or creator715, then 105 logic inserts a value of “1” in 510 column code B5 forsaid event indicating content judgment occurred and allows a subsequentjudgment on said 135 URL creator only, after display of user messageindicating such (not illustrated). In this manner, Data Integrity Stepon restricts each 130 or 125 user to a total of two judgments per 135URL, one regarding content and one regarding creator. This Step helpsprevent abuse of 105 motivated by self promotion or other reasons andthe foregoing description of this Step is meant to be representativeonly, and is not restrictive of the numerous methods those skilled inthe art could devise to protect the integrity of Data.

FIG. 2 process 215 depicts the population by 105 instruction and logicinto 400 of event ID, time of event, user 125 IP data, 135 URL and saidURL components, 135 meta elements, and total count of database 140existing response events for said 135 URL as seen in the following,respective cells of 400: A1, C3, A2, C1, D1, E1, F1, G1, C2, D2, E2, F2,and G2. This set of data, able to be transmitted from 400 to 140 forstorage is collectively referred to as Data Set 500, or event data, atprocess 215 and is described for explanatory purposes only, not limitingby claim or by method of the invention disclosed herein, as one skilledin the arts will realize that a variety of other geographic, networkanalytic and inferred data could readily be collected into 400 atprocess 215 for potential storage at database 140 segment 500. Data Set500 will name a 135 creator with 105 programmed population from cell D1on 400 containing 135 URL hostname. Data Set 500 will name content of135 with 105 programmed population of cells D2, E2, F2, and G2 from 400containing 135 meta elements. Should the bookmarking event be completed,Data Set 500 would be permanently added to 140 from 400. In the event ofan aborted attempt or failure to pass additional data integrity tests,all information collected on 400 is erased and no database entry isrecorded, although separate memory areas of 110 may capture analyticalevent data to measure how many visitors are rejecting to complete 300,and other information relevant to 110 administrators. The foregoingdisclaimer and database entry methodology apply equally to Data Set 505and Data Set 510, FIG. 2, 225 and 260.

FIG. 2 decision 220 YES allows 110 members to sign in via a typicalusername and password method and populates member data 505 stored in 140into 400 in process 225. Process 230 would make available member 125preferences, files and other personalized settings stored in 110 orsegregated 140 area to customize 125 experience with 110 at 115. Purelyfor illustrative purposes, 505 member data depicted as stored withcolumn codes B3, C4, D3, E3, D4, E4 with corresponding data fed duringprocess 225 into the respective cell locations and respectivelyidentifying the following information on 400: membership y/n, member ID,country, age, sex, and total number of existing bookmarks for saidmember. Those skilled in the arts related to social network websites andtheir related databases are familiar with the large quantity ofcategories and types of membership information that can be collectedfrom profiles, sign up forms, site usage statistics, URLs selected tojudge or bookmark, URL links added as metadata, subjective textual,image and interactive content added as metadata, and the commercialvalue of possessing such detailed information about individuals asrelated to marketing and other opportunities. The aforementionedmembership information and novel membership information is readilycollected and utilized by the enclosed invention within 505.

A NO response to decision FIG. 2, 220 causes no 505 data to be loadedinto 400. At process 235 anonymous 130 and member users 125 view SurveyForm 1 or 300 as illustrated in FIG. 3 showing web page 135 link to bejudged or bookmarked 320 and are able to indicate their answer toquestion 325 by moving a graphical slider 305. If 305 is moved by anyamount in any direction, a non-zero mathematical value is registered andstored in 400 cell F6 or G6 for potential feed into 510 at process 260,and decision block 235 is YES with proceed function 310 programmaticallybecoming activated for use. For exemplary purposes only and in no mannerlimiting the disclosed invention, said 305 is calibrated to two decimalplaces and indicates strength of preference between one left side andone right side controlled answer to Survey questions. If 305 is movedtowards the right side answer choice the preference indication is apositive number stored into appropriate cell of 400 and 510 with amaximum value of “10.00”, or a negative number with maximum value of“−10.00” for indications favoring left side answers. Activation ofsave/close function 315 or 330 is NO to decision block 240 moving eventto process 250 unless 315 or 330 is activated before 305 has registereda non-zero mathematical value, in which case the user is informed theywill be exiting without creating a judgment or bookmark and 210. No 305movement at process 235 will result in message to user asking if moretime is required and subsequent 210 if no 305 movement is registeredthereafter. At process 250 users, also referred to herein asrespondents, must pass Data Integrity Step 2, illustrated with 250embodied as a CAPTCHA mechanism in FIG. 10, which also provides asimplified view of system progression and exit options for post 235 YESevents wherein 1010 represents the final Survey in a given series or thefinal Survey a user desires to complete.

User selection of activated 310 function creates YES for decision block240 and displays Survey Form 1B or FIG. 6, 600 while engaging thelooping decision and Survey Form display processes 240 until 1010.Examination of FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 illustrate some of the Surveys700, 800, 900 that could appear during loop 240, for exemplary purposesonly and in no manner restrictive of the disclosed invention or of theparticular embodiments discussed herein.

One skilled in the relevant computer arts understands that the method asdetailed in the preceding steps, generally, employs data integritymechanisms 205, 250 to universally deliver controlled vocabulary surveyforms 235, 240, 245 and generate objective, mathematical 305 responsesto structured questions 325, 810 and answers 805 from anonymous 130 ormember users 125, wherein a given amount of content and creator data 500of web pages 135 and respondent information 500 from process 215 islinked to said forms questions and answers 400, therein generating a 140data table with significant cross-reference output available even if thetotality of respondents complete Survey 1, 300 only, and proceed to noneof the later series forms which collect more classified, detailed, andsignificant opinion data: 700, 705, 710, 715, 800, 805, 810, 900, 905,910. One embodiment not only populates 135 meta elements 500 for contentdescription and data table 140 assignment 400, but also captures theentire markup language content of said 135 for processing by algorithmand increased levels of 135 subject matter as cross-reference fodder forsaid questions and mathematical responses. Alternatively, and inpreferred embodiments herein detailed, persons skilled in the artsrelating to the fields of psychology, cognitive response, polling, andstatistics, by employing strategic use of survey forms 300, 600, 700,800, 900 and precise structure to said controlled vocabulary questions325, 810 and answers 805, can utilize embodiments of the disclosedmethod to produce auditable results with potentially greater impact andmeaning than can be obtained by using generic surveys, ambiguousvocabulary, and utilization strategies reliant upon complex algorithmsattempting to decipher accurate opinions and values from enormousvolumes of raw source markup language 135 data.

FIG. 6 Survey Form 1A, or 600, and 300 noted previously, help illustratethe a preferred method of generating meaningful public opinion datautilizing strategically designed controlled vocabulary and interfaceformat, as opposed to embodiments that emphasize computer algorithms.Vocabulary selection of Question 605 and form 600 show emphasis onsimple, clear language that helps, in combination with respondentability to proceed 310 or exit 315, 330 at any time, create relevantqualities to the user experience: a) the user is in control, b) they cananswer no Surveys 235 or as many as they like up to series end 240, andc) they are in an informal setting where they can retain anonymity 220if they choose. Those skilled in the relevant arts can see how usingthis structure throughout this embodiment's response collection processcan help create a higher percentage of responses from motivated users.Users not motivated or concerned about the content or creator of 135would, a) possibly not ever request to comment upon or bookmark 135, b)possibly terminate at 110, or c) possibly respond to 300 and exit at 600using 315 or 330. Respondents using 310 to voluntarily move deeper intoa Survey series, up to and including the final series form 900 whichallows the entry of unstructured tags, comments, and links asillustrated in FIG. 9, would therefore likely be exhibiting a higherlevel of motivation with more specific 700 and meaningful 800, 900 inputrelating to 135 creators and content. Typical weaknesses in pollingsystems such as coverage bias, non response bias, and response bias areaddressed by the system of the preferred embodiment of the invention asit offers permanent, ongoing surveys at no cost or obligation torespondents, can be answered at any time of night or day anywhere in theworld, are random and anonymous, and are capable of creating anincreasingly larger sample size over time.

Survey From 1B in FIG. 7, 700 illustrates in exemplary andnon-restrictive fashion only, how the structured format is utilized tocollect 135 metadata category division 705, 135 type classes 710, and135 metadata distinctions between opinions regarding 135 creators versus135 content using 715. 705, 710, 715 provide drop down menus for usersseeking to classify to more specific levels. It is understood by thoseskilled in the art that a wide range of choice exists for the exemplary700 vocabulary, categories, drop down choice quantity and vocabulary,and display options, including non-graphical display, and that 700 ismerely a representation that provides for concise illustration of theinvention's capacity to create standardized metadata. Data collectedfrom 700 and any ensuing Surveys is populated into 400 for storage into140, segment 510, should respondent pass Data Integrity Step 2 atprocess 250.

It is understood that because 705, 710, and 715 each can offer drop downchoices that a large number of possible categories, types, contentclasses, and creator classes would maintain permanent column headers indatabase 140, section 510 and that the enclosed illustrations areexemplary only. By viewing 400 and 510, one example of categorizationdata population is offered herein: the “People” categorization function705 offers a drop down list (not illustrated) including “sports” in thislist, further allowing, in some embodiments, the user entry of 2 userentered keywords for additional specification. In this example, “MichaelJordan” was typed into this hypothetical keyword area. The resultantdata is now seen in 400 as follows: B7, B8, and B9 contain values of 1denoting category and drop down selection and C9 captures the enteredkeywords “Michael” and “Jordan”. New data would be added to 140, section510, should this event not be aborted and should the user pass 250, DataIntegrity Step 2. This outcome is reflected in 510 under the columnheaders corresponding to the 400 cell locations above: B7, B8, and B9(C9 text not illustrated in 510 due to space limitations but would listkeywords noted above).

FIG. 8 further illustrates 105 programming and logic of 400 datapopulation, database 140 construction, and claimed controlled vocabularymethodology. 800, Survey Form 2, illustrates how 105 can employstrategic consideration of format and vocabulary choice for programmedanswers 805 to programmed questions 810 and evoke concise, meaningfuland useful responses from respondents by employing answers 805 comprisedof a word paired with its opposite. 810 illustrates how preferredembodiments of 105 program will alter 810 based on function 710 and 715selections by showing that the underlined words 810 can be interchangedprogrammatically. Sliding scale 305 provides mathematical responsespopulated into 400. As illustrated, cells F7 and G7 of 400 show values“Bias” and “Fairness”, the topmost 105 programmed controlled answerpaired opposites from 805. These two values would occupy fixed columnheaders on database 140, section 510 and permanent cell spaces F7 and G7on 400 whether or not a respondent answered this question. Asillustrated, 400 shows a value of “0.00” in cell F8 and “7.93” in cellG8, indicating that a respondent moved the slider 305 in topmost answerset 805 to the right, indicating his agreement with the word “fairness”in response to question 810, for a measured value of 7.93 (final sliderposition not illustrated herein). If the response had indicatedagreement with “bias” at 805, a negative number to two decimal placeswould have been registered in cell F8 of 400 and a “0.00” in cell G8 of400. Every answer set responded to by use of 305 produces a “0.00” valuefor the non-selected answer choice and either a negative or positivevalue to two decimal places for its paired opposite.

FIG. 9 illustrates Survey Form 3, an unstructured metadata collectorwhich is presented last in the preferred embodiment, after apredetermined number of forms have collected objective metadata andmathematical responses. In this simple example we see “best” and“player” have been entered in 900 at 905 by the respondent. This data ispopulated into 400 in cell C16, use of keywords is noted at cell B 16with value of “1” indicating use and “0” indicating non-use. If theevent is completed successfully, said values populate database 140, asseen in 510 under column codes corresponding to 400 cell locations, B16and C16.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 10 now provide a framework for detailing a range ofoutcomes from user interaction with 105 at 115. Users ending at 110 or255 have added no data to 140 and all populated 400 data is discarded.Anonymous user 130 reaching 260 has added at least some 500 and 510 datato 140. Member user 125 reaching 260 has added at least some 500, 505,and 510 data to 140. At event 260, 105 has enabled 140 to link at leastall of the following together from each said event (simplified here,detailed below): one 2-step verified user IP containing at least somegeo-location data; one URL; one said URL creator and some said URLcontent; some web analytic event data; available member data if 260 ismember related; at least one controlled vocabulary question regardingsaid URL; at least one controlled vocabulary answer word; and a precisenumerical score for said answer word. In this manner, 105 as embodiedheretofore, transforms articles of discovery into articles ofmeasurement. Existing browsers, AJAX client side technologies, servers,websites, blogs, search engines, search algorithms and systems ofadvertising create and/or utilize metadata using subjective means(keyword tagging, for example) generally to enhance and personalize thesearch, discovery, and extraction process while using 100. In thedisclosed and other embodiments, by novel means described herein and byothers not described herein, subjective metadata previously useful onlyfor search and discovery is collected in a process that allows itstransformation into mathematical data that is inherently useful,dynamic, global, composed of auditable elements, and conducive tocomplex relational cross-reference and reliable statistical opinionoutput.

This non-limiting embodiment describes a novel bookmarking, web pagecommenting, and public opinion measurement and repository methodologythat lies in contrast to current social bookmarking websites, blog andarticle comment sections, and other current Internet metadata creation,collection and usage mechanisms that do not employ, in general: dataintegrity controls 205, 250; programmatically captured 135 content andcreator names 215; 135 URL and event analytic information 215 (otherthan URL for current web-based bookmarking systems); programmaticallycaptured member information 225 (except in case of current socialbookmarking website); structured vocabulary questions 325, 810 to createobjectified metadata 305, 805 for 135; mathematical measurements 305 ofeach metadata response 805; standardized metadata division by category705, type 710, and creator vs. content 715; anonymous 130 or member 125usage in a controlled vocabulary setting 335, 300, 600, 700, 800;voluntary metadata capture environment with controlled vocabulary inaddition to assessment measures of respondent motivation levels 310,315, 330, 240, 245; environment providing for combination 240 ofsubjective metadata 900 with controlled vocabulary and mathematicalmetadata FIG. 10; and controlled vocabulary 135 metadata answer choicescomprised of a judgment or value oriented word 805 paired with itsantonym separated by a graphical sliding scale 305 for mathematicalrecording of indication of preference scores.

The use of 805 helps to reduce or eliminate survey wording bias byoffering, at all times, both extremes of possible answers to all 135related controlled vocabulary questions 810 in a range that allowsrespondents to indicate precisely how strong their preference is for oneanswer or the other. The allowance for anonymity 130, 335 reducesresponse bias of current polling systems, wherein respondents may feelembarrassed to admit certain sentiments to in-person or phone pollingworkers, and thus not reveal their true opinion.

Embodiments employing varying strategies within controlled vocabularyquestion 810 and answer sets 805 can produce output focused on the goalsdesired by 105 controller and programmer. The preferred embodimentherein illustrates a strategy designed to yield politically andcommercially viable and marketable public opinion information by askingserious and relevant questions whose controlled vocabulary possibleanswer choices comprise two antonyms. When each of these words is of adefinite nature 805 reflecting a human value, judgment, belief, opinion,or feeling, and by further allowing respondents to mark their preferenceanywhere between the range 305 comprising the two antonyms, 105 capturesprecise sentiment. One skilled the arts can readily design and program105 to various embodiments including those designed for operation in nonglobal environments, such as corporate intranets, with differentstrategies and vocabularies employed for customized solutions requiringprecise measurement of respondent sentiment towards any set of 135resources.

Those skilled in the relevant arts understand that survey and pollingsamples of as many as 1000 individuals is often considered a largeenough sample of a given population whereby extrapolations andinferences can then be made regarding the entire said population. Asample size of 10,000 persons is considered extremely large. Bytransforming articles of search, transaction, and information exchange(100, 120, 135, 110) into articles of mathematical public opinionmeasurement, 105 inputs into 140 may easily capture response data from10,000 or more individuals, possibly orders of magnitude more. 105creates subsets of said response data by allowing division of totalresponses by category 705, web page type 710, content or creator 215,715, 500, and by subject keywords 215, 500, 900, 905, 915. Usingrelational cross reference of table 140 elements containing thespecifications noted above, many survey population sizes of 1000 or morecan be created that relate to specific events, topics, issues, people,places and things. For this reason, and to reveal exemplary utility,FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, and FIG. 15 illustrate sample 115output mode screen shots and lay a foundation for discussion regarding140 outputs, all such discussion exemplary and in no manner limiting ofthe disclosed invention.

140 output is computer controlled, hosted by 110 and graphicallyinterfaced by users at 115, detailed by example only as a myriad ofchoices is realized by those skilled in the art once any database of thenature described herein begins to accumulate a quantity of responseinputs. 140 outputs may be displayed in meter mode 1100. FIG. 11 showsthat with no filters selected, the meter yields a world measure 1140 of105 system's collective response to the content of the Internet, or thesum of 305 preferences to question 325 which is universal to all systemusers. Embodied versions count each response as one multiplied by the305 indicated two decimal place score. Selecting a timeframe 1140 yieldsa dynamic 1140 movement over selected frame at selected speed. Filteringis accomplished by clicking filter button 805, 705, 710, 715, 1110,1120, 1130 and choosing from drop down lists for specific selection ofterms (not illustrated herein but detailed and discussed previously)that will appear via AJAX technologies in preferred embodiments. Anycombination of filtering and cross-reference is possible as it isunderstood by those skilled in the arts that these abilities areinherent to the nature of relational 140 or network databases, amongothers. 125 or 130 users may filter by judgment criteria (a drop downshowing all system controlled vocabulary answer terms 510, 805), bycategory 510, 705, by type 510, 710, by creator vs. content judgments215, 500, 510, 715, by timeframe 215, 500, 1140, by location 215, 500,1120, or by keyword 215, 500, 900, 905, 915, 1130 (drop down is a queryentry search bar similar to 1410). FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show rankingmode, wherein the filters and preferences yield user selected resultsper page 1215 and results of the ranking 1210 which are URLs with thetop ranking as filtered. In any mode, generalized results may always berefined and narrowed by query or keyword 1130, which usesprogrammatically captured 500, 505, and 510 data as well as anysubjectively entered keyword data from 510 to match queries and extractresults applying typical database search algorithms and computerprograms employed across the Internet by those skilled in the art ofdatabase management.

Each 105 system judgment criteria controlled word answer choicemaintains a column in the 140 data table section 510. Each survey scoredanswer word that a left side range 805 word will have negativemathematical values in its corresponding event rows and right side 805range words will be scored in positive numbers. A score of “0.00” isalways placed in the cell for the unselected antonym in each event.Therefore the top “negative” judgment 805 (bias, intolerance, ignorance)or left side answer will be the one with the most negative score forwhatever cross reference is requested. The top positive judgment 805(fairness, tolerance, education) will be the control answer with thehighest positive score. All response events present at least onecompletely universal Survey, 300, to all respondents concerning any webpage 135. Any presentation of alternate series would affect only surveysdisplayed after 300 and alternate series would only occur wherein aslightly different series based on FIG. 7, 705 and/or 710 selection wasstrategically crafted and programmatically delivered by 105 to commonselectors of 705 and/or 710. For example only, a survey series mightcontain more appropriately worded questions and answers for usersselecting “Products” at FIG. 7, 705 wherein the questions focused moreon product quality issues and how they would rate value, ease of use,etc. In any case of 105 embodiments using alternate survey series,Survey 300 would remain universal to all response events.

It is now apparent to those skilled in the arts that with a generouspopulation of users and response data that 140 output can be ofsignificant importance politically and commercially. The preferredembodiment utilizes several Survey forms similar to 300 and 800containing powerfully worded questions with controlled vocabulary pairedopposite answer ranges designed to deliver deeply meaningful publicopinion measurements. The preferred embodiment described herein createsa reverse lookup global public opinion directory in this manner. Normalpublic opinion polls pose a question first and then provide answers. Theembodiment disclosed herein provides the answers first and then letsusers find out the top 135 content and creators evoking such reactionand sentiment in a precise and highly customizable fashion. For example,in FIG. 12, 1200 users of 105 via 115 can select (all drop down text inquotes not illustrated) “bias” at 805, “politics” at 705, “blog posts”at 710, and “100” at 1215, and initiate search 1220. That user would see1210 the top 100 URLs judged as having bias, categorized as blog postswithin the category of judgments concerning politics.

Although one skilled in the relevant arts can see that the method hereindisclosed could provide for many scoring systems, rules, and allowances,a exemplary scoring system is described below to provide comprehensionof a preferred embodiment only, and in no manner to limit the disclosedinvention. Using the example above for discussion, all scores per URLderived directly from 140 data and any selected filters. In thisexample, assume that the selected filters 805, 705, and 710 narrow downthe entire universe of URLs in the system (FIG. 5A, 500 column header“C1”) to a subset of 10,421 URLs in 140 rows cross referenced to a fixed140 “bias” column as having a negative value (because it is a left sideword choice the value would be a negative) and a “1” in the cell forfixed 140 column headers for “politics” and “blog posts” category andtype (these are not illustrated in detail but inferred by viewing 400).The number one ranking from the 10,421 URLs would equal the URL with thehighest cumulative negative score. If one user marked URL “X”, belongingto the subset of 10,421, one time with a “−10.00” for “bias” and thatwas the only time URL “X” is noted in the subset, URL “X” has a totalscore for this filtered request of “−10.00”. If 5000 users marked URL“Y” one time each with a “−2.00” for “bias”, then 5000 of the 10,421URLs in said subset would be URL “Y” and its total score for thisfiltered request would be “−10,000”. In this manner are rankings andmeasurements obtained within preferred embodiments of 105.

FIG. 13 shows an important distinction in the preferred embodimentbetween world rankings, wherein results are the top scoring (either mostnegative score for left side criteria or most positive score for rightside criteria 805) user member names 1310, as opposed to URLs 1210.Additional categories not illustrated could allow filtering by number ofevidence links posted 910; any number of other social network building,advertising revenue and entertainment possibilities are quicklycomprehended by those skilled on the relevant art as pertaining to thesocial web.

FIG. 15 shows, in exemplary and non-limiting fashion only, a screen shotof 115 in audit mode wherein a ranking or query search result 1210, 1420is clicked to learn more about why that URL scored the way it did. Theresultant screen is exemplified 1500 showing the site URL 1510 andproviding means 1520 to dig deeper and display the questions behind thedisplayed scores 1530 and even each response that made up said score byproviding some of the 400 master response file information for display(not illustrated). Those skilled in the arts realize the powerfulfinancial implications of this strategy as a creator or subject of a webpage 1510 might have many reasons for knowing why people reacted andresponded to 1510 in the indicated manner. This novel audit featureallows the creator, owner, subject, or publishers of URL 1510, toinvestigate the responses one by one. In this manner they can assess thevalidity and quality of judgments about the URL in question by lookingat subjective comments and tags entered 900, 905 about said URL, bylooking at evidentiary links provided 910 relating to said URL, and evenby looking at a particular respondent's rankings within the system 1300,1301, to gain even more understanding about how the URL in question hasbeen received by others.

FIG. 14 shows a sample of 115 in traditional keyword query directorysearch mode as opposed to the reverse lookup method employed in themetering and ranking modes. A user would type in keywords and extractresults via matching cross-reference to 140 text-containing cells eitherpopulated programmatically from events 500, from existing membershipdata 505, or from event response data 515 and further cross reference byany filters selected to refine the query search. Those skilled in thearts realize that many possible search algorithms can be implemented inregards to 140 database keyword query searching rules and weightings.For example, some users of 105 may choose to apply heavier weightings toprogrammatically assigned creator and content text 500 and provide thosematches to keyword search queries first, whereas alternate designs wouldplace heavier emphasis on keyword search query matches to the respondententered keywords found in 510.

As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the inventiondescribed herein may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.Likewise, the particular naming and division of the articles, functions,procedures, programs, features, resources, methodologies and otheraspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms thatimplement the invention or its features may have different names,divisions and/or formats. Furthermore, in embodiments of the presentinvention implemented as software, it can be implemented as a script, asa standalone program, as part of a larger program, as a plurality ofseparate scripts and/or programs, as a statically or dynamically linkedlibrary, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or inevery and any other way known now or in the future to those of skill inthe art of computer programming. Additionally, the present invention isin no way limited to implementation in any specific programminglanguage, or for any specific operating system or environment.Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to beillustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which isset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to convert subjective metadata intostatistical opinion data, comprising: a computer application launched bya user reacting to a web resource, said web resource comprising auniform resource identifier or a local device file of said user which isassigned a uniform resource identifier by said application, saidapplication comprising a survey comprising: a plurality of opinionchoices, a graphical slider comprising a slide knob permitted to movealong a slide track, functions permitting classification of said webresource and entry of comments and tags by said user, and a function tosave inputs to said survey; creating subjective metadata regarding a webresource, comprising: said survey displays said plurality of opinionchoices singularly or collectively, wherein an opinion choice consistsof two words, each the antonym of the other and displayed on opposingends of said slide track, wherein each said antonym names a specifichuman value, belief, opinion, feeling, emotion, or judgment, wherein onesaid antonym is negatively valued and its pairing antonym is positivelyvalued, wherein user movement of said slide knob towards a said antonymindicates a said user subjective opinion in regards to a web resourceand said subjective opinion is subjective metadata linked to said webresource, wherein a plurality of said subjective opinions may beindicated by said user during said survey, wherein additional saidsubjective metadata is created by said comments and tags entered by saiduser, and wherein said application requires said user to indicate atleast one said subjective opinion prior to permitting said function tosave inputs; objectification of said subjective metadata, comprising:said application assigns a maximum value of negative 10.00 to saidnegatively valued antonyms and a maximum value of positive 10.00 to saidpositively valued antonyms, said graphical slider further comprises atext box within which an opinion score is generated by said movement ofsaid slide knob, wherein said movement is calibrated to display saidopinion score ranging from negative 10.00 to positive 10.00 inincrements of negative 0.01 if said movement is towards a negativelyvalued antonym or in increments of positive 0.01 if said movement istowards a positively valued antonym, wherein said application assignssaid opinion score to a said subjective opinion when said user createssaid opinion score for a subsequent said opinion choice or activates thesaid function to save inputs, and wherein an assigned opinion scoreobjectifies said subjective metadata by combining said subjectiveopinion with a mathematical value represented by said opinion score;creating and outputting statistical opinion data, comprising: said useractivating said function to save inputs creates an opinion survey, saidopinion survey comprises database entry and storage of at least one saidopinion score, uniform resource identifier data regarding a webresource, data captured by said functions permitting classification ofsaid web resource and entry of comments and tags, and relational dataelements, wherein said relational data elements comprise available andinferable network, analytic, geographic, and demographic data linkingsaid opinion survey to said web resource and said user, wherein saiddatabase comprises the sum of all data from all said opinion surveys,wherein said database is cross referenced and searchable by query,wherein outputs comprising a subset of said web resources or said userscontaining said opinion survey data matches to said query are forwardlookup statistical opinion data, and wherein outputs comprisingcumulative said opinion score rankings of said users or said webresources by respective said antonyms are reverse lookup statisticalopinion data.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said subjective metadatacomprises at least one of user generated bookmarks, tags, comments,opinions, ratings, reviews, or discussion pertaining to web resources.3. The method of claim 1, wherein said statistical opinion datacomprises public opinion regarding at least one of the content, creator,uniform resource location, or uniform resource name of a web resource.4. The method of claim 1, wherein said computer application comprises atleast one of a web application, mobile application, browser taskbarapplication, web widget, module, intranet application, extranetapplication, or application stored on a local device.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said relational data elements comprise: time and eventdata of said opinion survey, network analytic data linking said webresource to respective said user and respective said opinion survey,interne protocol address of said user, device identification of saiduser, obtainable geographical information of said user, uniform resourcelocation and uniform resource name of said web resource, meta title anddescription of said web resource, and known and inferable demographicdata of said user.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said computerapplication is a social networking mobile application permitting bothmember and anonymous usage of said survey.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein said statistical opinion data comprises results from queriesinto said database, comprising: search results generated in response tosaid queries matching data from said opinion surveys; reverse lookupstatistical opinion data, comprising said database queries to sort saidweb resources or said users by cumulative said opinion scores and bysaid antonyms, wherein said sort results produce rankings, wherein saidrankings are filterable by said opinion survey data; and forward lookupstatistical opinion data, comprising search term queries into saiddatabase resulting in matches to said opinion survey data, wherein saidmatches create a subset of database results comprising said webresources and said users, wherein cumulative said opinion scores createranking within said subset, and wherein said ranking is filterable bysaid opinion survey data.